On Saturday April 1, the Medford Middle School String Ensemble, under the direction of Sophia Chang, received a Silver Medal at MICCA (Massachusetts Instrumental and Chorus Conductor’s Association) Band and Orchestra Concert Festival.
The MICCA Concert Festival is designed to promote excellence in musical performance. The festival was held in six sites across Massachusetts, March 31 – April 2. Throughout the weekend, approximately 160 instrumental ensembles participated. By participating in the festival, students and teachers strive to meet the MICCA Gold Medal Standard.
The Ensemble’s selections include “Fugue from Serenade for String Orchestra” by Norman Leyden, “Mystical Quest” by Jeremy Woolstenhulme and “Dance of the Tumblers” by Rimsky- Korsakoff, arr. Sandra Dackow. Participants include violin Justin Truong, Adam Sada, Amy Parrilla, Anamol Kaspal, Theodore Tringale, Nathan Moreno, Vanessa Moran, Cindy Nguyen, Sadie Belz; viola Diego Hernandez, Pascal Cius, Cullen Paone; cello Samuel Cluggish, Arielle Bezerra, Katharine Schmidt; double bass Jonathan Remy.
The group was founded in 2009 and since that time they have earned 6 Gold medals and 2 Silver medals. The students practice not only during school but for many hours before or after school in order to achieve this success.
Violist Diego Hernandez (left) and cellist Samuel Cluggish (right)